Alan’s guidebook
Food Scene
IN CHINATOWN - Cool decor - Colonial Feel - speak easy drinking establishment with nice cocktails and a nice bar menu. Live DJ on weekends. Gets REALLY crowded around 10pm.
They apparently take reservations... but I've never done it, so I can't comment on how it works.
Drink some hi-octane chinese hootch, chat with some strangers and when you need something to help sober you up, you can get a snack there or stumble out and get some Chinese food - you'll be in Toronto's Downtown China Town.
9 recommandé par les habitants
Big Trouble
460 Dundas St WIN CHINATOWN - Cool decor - Colonial Feel - speak easy drinking establishment with nice cocktails and a nice bar menu. Live DJ on weekends. Gets REALLY crowded around 10pm.
They apparently take reservations... but I've never done it, so I can't comment on how it works.
Drink some hi-octane chinese hootch, chat with some strangers and when you need something to help sober you up, you can get a snack there or stumble out and get some Chinese food - you'll be in Toronto's Downtown China Town.
IN CHINATOWN - Late Night Chinese Food place - Decent chinese food for a place that's open late at night. Service is fast and efficient. Prices very reasonable.
11 recommandé par les habitants
Goldstone Noodle Restaurant
266 Spadina Ave.IN CHINATOWN - Late Night Chinese Food place - Decent chinese food for a place that's open late at night. Service is fast and efficient. Prices very reasonable.
IN CHINATOWN - Decent sit down chinese food restaurant that serves Dim Sum All Day.
78 recommandé par les habitants
Rol San Restaurant
388 Spadina Ave.IN CHINATOWN - Decent sit down chinese food restaurant that serves Dim Sum All Day.
5 MIN WALK from Strathcona - This was one of the 1st pizzerias that hit the Toronto food scene with their wood fired certified neapolitan style pizzas. Always good and consistent food and great service too!
They have a weekday lunch special available until 6pm - an app, margarita pizza and dessert for $20! You can't beat that !
384 recommandé par les habitants
Pizzeria Libretto
221 Ossington Ave5 MIN WALK from Strathcona - This was one of the 1st pizzerias that hit the Toronto food scene with their wood fired certified neapolitan style pizzas. Always good and consistent food and great service too!
They have a weekday lunch special available until 6pm - an app, margarita pizza and dessert for $20! You can't beat that !
5 - 10 MIN WALK from Strathcona - Fast efficient and reasonably priced gyros - fully packed with meat and fries!! I tend to get the lamb gyro, but they also offer pork and chicken.
It is very busy on the weekends, especially during the summer and around dinner time... even take-out is problematic when they're packed... which sorta speaks to the food quality and the value you get for your dollar.
56 recommandé par les habitants
Messini Authentic Gyros
445 Danforth Ave5 - 10 MIN WALK from Strathcona - Fast efficient and reasonably priced gyros - fully packed with meat and fries!! I tend to get the lamb gyro, but they also offer pork and chicken.
It is very busy on the weekends, especially during the summer and around dinner time... even take-out is problematic when they're packed... which sorta speaks to the food quality and the value you get for your dollar.
5 MIN WALK from Strathcona - Great BBQ. I was
just in Texas and I would say that the BBQ was on
par, if not slightly better, then where I ate in the
South. Get the platter so you can try EVERY meat
they make.
19 recommandé par les habitants
Greenwood Smokehouse BBQ
673 Danforth Ave5 MIN WALK from Strathcona - Great BBQ. I was
just in Texas and I would say that the BBQ was on
par, if not slightly better, then where I ate in the
South. Get the platter so you can try EVERY meat
they make.
10-15 MIN. WALK from Strathcona - This is a pretty cool
Irish Pub. Great food, cool ambiance. Great backyard
patio during the Spring, Summer and Fall.
56 recommandé par les habitants
Allen's
143 Danforth Ave10-15 MIN. WALK from Strathcona - This is a pretty cool
Irish Pub. Great food, cool ambiance. Great backyard
patio during the Spring, Summer and Fall.
CHINATOWN - Dim Sum anyone? I'm Chinese... I like
Dim Sum. If you wanna be downtown, in Chinatown
this is the place I recommend. The prices are pretty
good and if you're there on the weekend BEFORE
11:30am the standard dishes are $2 each (I think... it's
been a while), but after 11:30am they go back up to
regular price, so get there early if you want to eat
rather inexpensively. And it's on the top floor, so go
out on their balcony and see the intersection of
Dundas and Spadina from above.
14 recommandé par les habitants
Sky Dragon Chinese Restaurant 龍翔酒樓
280 Spadina Ave.CHINATOWN - Dim Sum anyone? I'm Chinese... I like
Dim Sum. If you wanna be downtown, in Chinatown
this is the place I recommend. The prices are pretty
good and if you're there on the weekend BEFORE
11:30am the standard dishes are $2 each (I think... it's
been a while), but after 11:30am they go back up to
regular price, so get there early if you want to eat
rather inexpensively. And it's on the top floor, so go
out on their balcony and see the intersection of
Dundas and Spadina from above.
CHINATOWN - Ruth and I like dumplings. This place
makes good affordable dumplings (and some pretty
good soup too). If you're in Chinatown and have a
dumpling craving (and who doesn't?) this is the place
to be. NOTE: Make sure you get the pan fried one's...
more expensive but oooohh so worth it.
36 recommandé par les habitants
Dumpling House Restaurant
328 Spadina Ave.CHINATOWN - Ruth and I like dumplings. This place
makes good affordable dumplings (and some pretty
good soup too). If you're in Chinatown and have a
dumpling craving (and who doesn't?) this is the place
to be. NOTE: Make sure you get the pan fried one's...
more expensive but oooohh so worth it.
5-10 Mins from RHODES - great gatro pub, with affordable fare and plently of local beers on tap and in cans. The vibe is very relaxed and casual. We've been going here since it opened.
106 recommandé par les habitants
The Wren
1382 Danforth Ave5-10 Mins from RHODES - great gatro pub, with affordable fare and plently of local beers on tap and in cans. The vibe is very relaxed and casual. We've been going here since it opened.
Drinks
IN KENSINGTON MARKET AREA - Hole in the wall drinking establishment - beer, cider and some hard liquor. No Fancy cocktails here.
Rub elbows with some of Toronto's artists and those social people on a budget.
44 recommandé par les habitants
Ronnie's Local 069
69 Nassau StIN KENSINGTON MARKET AREA - Hole in the wall drinking establishment - beer, cider and some hard liquor. No Fancy cocktails here.
Rub elbows with some of Toronto's artists and those social people on a budget.
IN KENSINGTON MARKET AREA - No Sign Outside... walk down a hallway with vendor shops selling art and artifacts (more like a flea market)... walk past al the stalls and you end up at a door near the end of the hallway. Open the door and you enter Cold Tea. A CASH ONLY cocktail and beer establishment.
A cool indoor and outdoor space in a very cool part of town - Kensington Market.
Only those in the know know about this bar... and now you know :)
96 recommandé par les habitants
Cold Tea
1186 Queen Street WestIN KENSINGTON MARKET AREA - No Sign Outside... walk down a hallway with vendor shops selling art and artifacts (more like a flea market)... walk past al the stalls and you end up at a door near the end of the hallway. Open the door and you enter Cold Tea. A CASH ONLY cocktail and beer establishment.
A cool indoor and outdoor space in a very cool part of town - Kensington Market.
Only those in the know know about this bar... and now you know :)
10-15 MIN WALK from Strathcona - Great Irish Bar. Has
live bands Sundays. Always packed on St. Patty's .
22 recommandé par les habitants
Dora Keogh
141 Danforth Ave10-15 MIN WALK from Strathcona - Great Irish Bar. Has
live bands Sundays. Always packed on St. Patty's .
NEAR LITTLE ITALY WARNING - this is a bar for
REALLY budget conscious travelers. I (Alan) use to
drink here in my University days, a lot has changed
BUT they still serve really cheap beer and mixed
drinks.
Bistro 422
422 College StNEAR LITTLE ITALY WARNING - this is a bar for
REALLY budget conscious travelers. I (Alan) use to
drink here in my University days, a lot has changed
BUT they still serve really cheap beer and mixed
drinks.
OFF SUBWAY LINE - I've never eaten here... Martini's
at the Bar is a must. Depending on the bartender it'll
be a great show.
15 recommandé par les habitants
Museum Tavern
208 Bloor St WOFF SUBWAY LINE - I've never eaten here... Martini's
at the Bar is a must. Depending on the bartender it'll
be a great show.
Fun Place
10-15min walk from Strathcona . For $5 you have access to All-you-can-play Arcade Games and Pinball... they have local micro-brews on tap for $5... they have a kitchen that serves brown food (aka fried food) at reasonable prices... it's a flashback to my youth and itz glorious!!
it's a fun place to lose yourself or to kill time. I highly recommend it if you like old skule Arcade games.
ZED*80 Arcade Bar
185 Danforth Ave10-15min walk from Strathcona . For $5 you have access to All-you-can-play Arcade Games and Pinball... they have local micro-brews on tap for $5... they have a kitchen that serves brown food (aka fried food) at reasonable prices... it's a flashback to my youth and itz glorious!!
it's a fun place to lose yourself or to kill time. I highly recommend it if you like old skule Arcade games.
30-40MIN WALK from Strathcona - Great place to see
farm animals in the city.
247 recommandé par les habitants
Riverdale Farm
201 Winchester St30-40MIN WALK from Strathcona - Great place to see
farm animals in the city.
Coffee/bunch
1 MIN WALK from from Strathcona - They make their own
croissants and other baked goods... it's less then a
minute away from the house.
NOTE: they don't open early.
13 recommandé par les habitants
The Shmooz
590 Pape Ave1 MIN WALK from from Strathcona - They make their own
croissants and other baked goods... it's less then a
minute away from the house.
NOTE: they don't open early.
5-10 MIN WALK from Strathcona . Cute place near
Withrow Park, they do nice brunch meals too.
35 recommandé par les habitants
Riverdale Perk Cafe
5-10 MIN WALK from Strathcona . Cute place near
Withrow Park, they do nice brunch meals too.
5-10 MIN walk from Rhodes - Great independent coffee shop close to the house.
58 recommandé par les habitants
Red Rocket Coffee
1364 Danforth Ave5-10 MIN walk from Rhodes - Great independent coffee shop close to the house.
Indoor/Outdoor Market
It's a nice market. It's the oldest one in the city. Go to
Carousel Bakery and get a Peameal sandwich and
people watch. In 2012 Natural Geographic rated it
the No. 1 Food market in the world
1398 recommandé par les habitants
St. Lawrence Market
93 Front St EIt's a nice market. It's the oldest one in the city. Go to
Carousel Bakery and get a Peameal sandwich and
people watch. In 2012 Natural Geographic rated it
the No. 1 Food market in the world
1 MINUTE WALK from Strathcona - Every Saturday,
minutes from the house a small Farmers Market
appears - available from June - October.
8 recommandé par les habitants
Withrow Park Farmers' Market - June to October
725 Logan Ave1 MINUTE WALK from Strathcona - Every Saturday,
minutes from the house a small Farmers Market
appears - available from June - October.
Kensington Market is one of my favorite places to go
in the city just to sit back and watch the scene.
Soooo many people to see, so many flavours to
sample. It's a true representation of the cities
diversity. AND it's in China Town!!
1698 recommandé par les habitants
Kensington Market
Kensington Market is one of my favorite places to go
in the city just to sit back and watch the scene.
Soooo many people to see, so many flavours to
sample. It's a true representation of the cities
diversity. AND it's in China Town!!
Sightseeing
Really cool place to go for a walk/bike ride and see
the city from a distance. If you're lucky you can even
see beavers in this area OR evidence of them in the
area.
106 recommandé par les habitants
Tommy Thompson Park
1 Leslie StReally cool place to go for a walk/bike ride and see
the city from a distance. If you're lucky you can even
see beavers in this area OR evidence of them in the
area.
A great place to get away from the concrete jungle
(especially during the summer). Stunning views and
great beaches. The cafe on the island is pretty cool
too.
1035 recommandé par les habitants
Toronto Islands
A great place to get away from the concrete jungle
(especially during the summer). Stunning views and
great beaches. The cafe on the island is pretty cool
too.
The TIFF Lightbox... pretty cool building. Theaters
are nice but they also have a portion of the building
that's free to access that talks about the building of
the TIFF building and history of TIFF. It's pretty neat...
if you're into free history stuff.
582 recommandé par les habitants
TIFF Bell Lightbox
350 King St WThe TIFF Lightbox... pretty cool building. Theaters
are nice but they also have a portion of the building
that's free to access that talks about the building of
the TIFF building and history of TIFF. It's pretty neat...
if you're into free history stuff.
ON SUBWAY LINE - They have a reduced admission
rate Friday's after 4:30pm, but it will increase if
there's a special event. Cool place, on the subway
line. After you're all cultured, and need a recharge,
go to the bar across the street called Museum
Tavern, sit at the bar and get a Martini - enjoy the
show.
2332 recommandé par les habitants
Royal Ontario Museum
100 Queens ParkON SUBWAY LINE - They have a reduced admission
rate Friday's after 4:30pm, but it will increase if
there's a special event. Cool place, on the subway
line. After you're all cultured, and need a recharge,
go to the bar across the street called Museum
Tavern, sit at the bar and get a Martini - enjoy the
show.
Lotz of good restaurants here too... but if you have
the time, try and book a Sake tasting at Ontario
Springs the first Sake producers in Eastern Canada.
Get the Arabashiri sake... its soo flavourful!
1704 recommandé par les habitants
Quartier historique de la Distillerie
55 Mill StLotz of good restaurants here too... but if you have
the time, try and book a Sake tasting at Ontario
Springs the first Sake producers in Eastern Canada.
Get the Arabashiri sake... its soo flavourful!
FREE Wednesday Nights 6-9pm (refrain from
bringing a backpack so you don't have to check your
stuff... unless you want to... but the line-up is killer!)
Pretty cool Canadian art along with some neat
contemporary exhibits. They have Adult Nights the
first Thursday of every month - drinks while looking
at art and listening to beats, so civilized :) They also
have Family Fun on Sundays from 1-4pm (Nov - Apr)
2262 recommandé par les habitants
Musée des beaux-arts de l'Ontario
317 Dundas St WFREE Wednesday Nights 6-9pm (refrain from
bringing a backpack so you don't have to check your
stuff... unless you want to... but the line-up is killer!)
Pretty cool Canadian art along with some neat
contemporary exhibits. They have Adult Nights the
first Thursday of every month - drinks while looking
at art and listening to beats, so civilized :) They also
have Family Fun on Sundays from 1-4pm (Nov - Apr)
This is tourist central, BUT it's pretty cool. I like
hanging out by the water. There's a free gallery and
band shell down there. The place to see the Tall
Ships when they're in town. NOTE: The Rastafarian
selling corn chowder is where it's at... or so the say...
I think his quality has diminished as his popularity has
increased, but I'd still check it out, he may have
changed his ways :)
512 recommandé par les habitants
Harbourfront Centre
235 Queens Quay WThis is tourist central, BUT it's pretty cool. I like
hanging out by the water. There's a free gallery and
band shell down there. The place to see the Tall
Ships when they're in town. NOTE: The Rastafarian
selling corn chowder is where it's at... or so the say...
I think his quality has diminished as his popularity has
increased, but I'd still check it out, he may have
changed his ways :)
Was once the tallest free standing building in the world. It's still pretty cool way to see the city and the lake.
Make a reservation for the restaurant and order the prix fixe menu OR greater and you don't have to pay the admission fee (which is $38).
3509 recommandé par les habitants
Tour CN
290 Bremner BlvdWas once the tallest free standing building in the world. It's still pretty cool way to see the city and the lake.
Make a reservation for the restaurant and order the prix fixe menu OR greater and you don't have to pay the admission fee (which is $38).